Machine for separating stones from clay.



R. W. LYLE. MACHINE FOR SEPARATING STONES FROM CLAY. APPLICATION man DEC. I6, 1910. RENEWED JULY 3, 1915.

1,165,523. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

VCOLUIIKKB-IA PLANDGRAPH C0.. WASHING ON. D. c.

R. w. LYLE. MACHINE FOR SEPARATING STONES FROM CLAY. APPLICATION FILED DEC.16, 1910- RENEWED JULY 3. 1915- Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- OOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Cb..WASHXNGTDN. D c.

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ROBERT W. LYLE, OF SOUTH RIVER, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LYLE CLAY CLEANER COMPANY, A CORPURATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

MAGI-IINE FOB SEPARATING STONES FROM CLAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Application filed Iiecember 16, 1910, Serial No. 597,644. Renewed July 3, 1915. Serial No. 37,953.

71 1 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT W. LYLE, a citizen of the United. States, and resident of South River, in the county of MiddleseX and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inrMachines for Separating, Stones from Clay, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in 1 machines for separating stones from clay, and it has particular relation to an appara tus of the character shown in my co-pending applicationfor patent, filed July 2,1909, Serial No. 505,704, in which a moving cutter surface travels beneath a hopper carrying the crude clay and constitutes the bottom of the hopper, the clay being retained in the hopper for the action of the cutter surface by a trap-outlet mechanism mounted with relation to the cutter surface and at the front opening of the hopper immediately above said surface. j a

My present improvements are designed to provide improved trap-outlet means of the character above indicated, which will possess advantages in point of adjustability,

effective operation and general efficiency, and .to provide other improved features which will enhance theeffective and economical operation of theapparatus.

In the drawingsFigure l is a side elevation of the machine, embodying my presentimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the portion of the machine adjacent the hopper, illustrating my improved trap-outlet means. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view on the line :c'm of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line y'y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a de tail vertical sectional view, illustrating the adjustment and operation of the trap-outlets. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective-view, illustrating the chain-links for carrying the knives or cutters and their fiber bearings Fig. 7 is a detail cross-section through the chain-links and adjacent parts.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the general frame-work, within which travels a moving cutter surface, 2, the active portion of which is beneath a hopper, 3, mounted immediately above the moving cutter surface and having its bottom constituted thereby. The moving cutter surface, in the construction herein shown, consists of cross-bars, 4, mounted in series successively and spaced. to provide intervening openings, as at 5, for the passage of the cut clay, said bars carrying knife-blades,r6, having their cutting edges projecting at the front edge of the cross-bar above the plane of the top surface thereof, as at 7. The moving cutter surface constituted by the cross-bars 4 and knife-blades 6 is assembled in an endless belt construction, by c0nnection of the respective ends of the cross'bars with chain links, 8, and the action is such that the lumps of crude clay placed in the hopper 3 are retained uponthe moving cutter surface so that the knives of the latter cut or shave the clay, during the travel of said cutter surface, and the cut clay passes through openings or spaces 5 between the cross-bars 4, While the stones and refuse matter are carried upon the moving cutter surface to a point of deposit after they have passed from the hopper. In the general assemblage of the parts of the machine, .as herein indicated, the endless belt constituting the moving cutter surface passes around sprocket-wheels, 9, at opposite end portions of the framework 1, so that the active or operative portion of the moving cutter surface is sustained as a platform at the top between said sprocket-wheels, and the hopper 8 is mounted over this active portion, while beneath said active portion extends a chute, as a}; 10, for the convenient deposit of the cut 0 ay.

The general features of the hopper and moving cutter surface, comprising the parts above described, and the operative relation ship thereof to the general parts of the complete machine, are fully shown and described in my previous application for patent Serial No. 505,704, above referred to, to which reference may be had for a detail understanding of the construction and operation of the character'of apparatus towhich my present improvements relate, and I have herein shown a moving cutter surface of the construction illustrated and described in my co-pending application for patent, filed December 8, 1910, Serial No. 596,254, to which reference may be had for a detail understanding of the structural characteristics of the cutter'surface preferably employed in connection with my present improvements.

' their carriage on the moving cutter surface to a point of deposit, such means consisting of trap-outlets constituted by independentlymounted traps arranged in a series extending transversely of the moving cutter surface and projecting downwardly to within a short distance of the top surface thereof, said independently-mounted traps being weighted to provide for an automatic gravityaction and being hinged at their upperportions to a stationary part of the hopper so that they swing at a point ashort distance in front of the transverse front opening at the bottom of the hopper and extending across the moving cutter surface and immediately above the same, and my present .invention and improvements have particular relation to trap-outlet means of this character for retarding the passage of the clay upon the moving. cutter surface and permitting the passage thereon of the stones and refuse matter. 1 r

I will now proceed to describe the-particular features of my present improvements and the parts related thereto.

The general framework 1 comprises beams, 11 -11, mounted in a longitudinal plane beneath the chain-links of the moving cutter surface, at the top portion of the machine, to sustain the active portion of the cutter surface in a horizontal or platform position, and above the moving cutter surface are provided side bars, 12-12, comprisedin the; framework, and extending longitudi nally with relation to the moving cutter surface, which side bars are preferably respectively located at points-within the plane of'the ends of the cross-bars 4.- which are connected to the chain-links and immediately above the top surface of said cross-bars and form,upwardly-extending sides which operateito retain the stones and refuse matter in their carriage upon the cutter surface to the point of deposit therefrom. In the improved construction herein illustrated, said side bars 12 are preferably extended from endto end of the machine, so that they form the sides of the lower portion of the hopper 3, as at 14, and the front and rear lower portions of the hopper are formed by cross pieces, as at 15 and 16, respectively, extending transversely between the side bars 12. This construction enables the attachment of the hopper proper to the side bars extending transversely immediately above the moving cutter surface 2, this outlet opening being constituted, in the construction as herein shown, by a space left beneath the front cross piece 15. With relation to said outlet opening 17 and extending transversely with relation to the lowerportion of the hopper, is a cross-bar, 18, which carries the trap-outlet members. This cross-bar, in

the present construction, is preferably lo-,

cated immediately infront of the front cross piece 15, so that, i'nconjunction with the latter, it extends over an outletspace, as in- V dicated at 19,existing in front of-the outlet opening 17 at the bottomof the hopper. Pivot-ally connected, as at 20, to the front of the cross-bar 18, are a series of traps, 21, which collectively form a wall extending across the moving cutter surface 2, the trap outlets 21 being independently pivoted and V fulcrumed atv their upper portions while their lower edges, 22, extend with relation to the moving-cutter surface. These trapoutlets are each weighted for gravity actlon,

preferably by means of a forwardly-projecting arm, 23, carrying a weight or block, 21, which may be adjustable by means of a set screw, 25, and 'in practice all the parts or members of the traps 21 may be formed of metal. The outer weighted portions of'the' traps 21 are preferably supported in normal position by a cross rod 26, extending between the side bars '12, and upon which the outer ends of the arms 23 of the traps 21 are adapted to rest, which stop cross rod thus serves tolimit the closing movem'entof the loo trap outlets beyond a normal position- For a general detail understanding of the operation and function of this trap-outlet mechanism reference may be had to my p'revious'* application. herein mentioned, showing the type of clay-cleaning machine to which my present improvements especially relate, but

it may be here stated that the action of the series of weighted and suspended trap-outlets 21 is such that the pressure of the crude clay will not actuate said traps to permit the release of the. clay but the latter will be re tarded until the knife-edges 'have'fully operated upon the same, while any stones passing through the opening 17 and bearing against the trap-outlets 21", or any accumulation in rear thereof, will actute said suspended traps substances carried along by the travel of the moving cutter surface and not soft enough to granulate against the resistance of the weighted traps, and the trap-outlets 21' will thus open against their weightedresistance sufliciently to permit the release of stones and their carriage upon the; moving cutter by the bear-ing againstthesamejof such hard 7 tttiOll 211'& secured.

surface to a point'of deposit therefrom and will automatically close when the resistance offered by the passage of the stones is released. v j

It is desirable in this class of machines to regulate the conditions of the closure effected by the trap-outlet mechanism at the hopper outlet opening 17, according to the character of the crude clay which is being relation to the support of the active moving cutter surfac The preferred construction of chain-l nks employed in adaptable relation to the bearing strip 37 and the cross operated upon within the hopper, and for this purpose in my present invention and improvements the trap-outlet mechanism 1s vertically adjustable with relation to the moving cutter surface 2. The cross-bar 18, which pivotally carries the entire series of traps 21 is adjustably mounted so that it may be moved vertically and carry with it in its adjustment the trap-outlet mechanism, and the preferredconstruction for effecting this adjustment comprises standards, 272'7 mounted upon the side bars 12 and having 18 and headed, as at 33, at'the under side of the latter, whereby in their upward movement these screws lift said cross-bar and in their downward movement bear upon and lower the same. These adjustment screws are operatively mounted to work through a boxing, 34, at the top of the standards 27 and in threaded connection with a nut, 35, retained in said boxing, and they are pro vided at their projective top ends with suitable hand-wheels, 36, by which they may be conveniently operated. By means of the construction and arrangement just described, the trap-outlet mechanism may be conveniently and readily adjusted vertically and thus enable a variable relationship of the lower ends 22 of the independentlyoperating trap-outlets21' with respect to the moving cuttersurface 2, according to the character and conditions of the clay which is being operated upon, whereby the most effective and economical conditions of oper- The links of the endless chain by which the moving cutter surface is assembled and ableholder, at 38, and adapted to retainbars i of the moving cutter surface has a fiat plane bottom surface as at 89, throughout its lengtlnf which affords a uniform smooth bearing upon the fibrous bearing strip 37, and at its top the chain link 8 is provided with lateral'wings or extensions, 40, at opposite sides, to which the end portions of the cross-bars 1 are secured, by bolts, as at 41, or in any othersuitable man- The secured ends of the cross-bars a, beneath which the chain-links are located, extend beyond the side bars 12, and the knife-blades 6 carri ed by said cross-bars 4: extend on a transverse plane between the side bars 12 and terminate within the plane of these side bars,it being understood that the active operative portion of the moving cutter surface is between said side bars 12 and that the operative extentof the openings at the cutting edge of the lznife-blades and existing between the spaced cross-bars at, for the passage of the cut clay, is thus over practically the transverse extent of the space existing between said side bars 12. Under the practical conditions of operation, utilizing the maximum width of the cutting portion of the moving cutter surface, as just indicated, it is desirable to avoid liability of the cut clay which passes between the spaced crossed-bars 4 contacting with the chain-linksand their hearing strip 37 and thus clogging and interfering with the antifriction movement of the cutter surface. and for this purpose the space between the front and rear edges of the adjoining cross-bars at is closed at the terminal ends of the knifeblades 6. In the preferred construction for the purpose just stated, the front edge, Lt-2, of the cross-bar 4'. is provided with a lug or projection, a3, at each terminal end of the knife-blade 6, against which the rear edge, 44, of the adjoining cross-bar f will bear. These lugs or projections as thus close the intervening space between the cross-bars at a point beneath the frame side bars 12 and between the terminal end of the knifeblade and the end portion of the cross-bar -11 which projects beyond said side bars 12 and is secured to the chain-links. and this closure effectively retains thecut clay from in terference with the chain-links and their hearing. The lugs or projections 43 may be a separate member secured to the cross-bar t by screws, as at 45, or they may be integral with said crossbar if desired.

To enable convenient removal of the fibrous bearing strip 37, for purposes of subof the beam employed to secure the extensions t? to said beai Thus, by removing the fastening-s 4:9,

stripe")? suitably secured toits top surface;-

for instance by screws, as at 4:6, and said bar 38 is carried and held in position by extensions or strips, d7, projecting down ardly and secured in recesses, d8, intheouter face ll, fastening screws, 4E9, being the holder 38 with the bearing strip 37 may be slid out from beneath the chain-llnks S,

and again restored to operative position,

without dismembering the moving cutter surface or any of the machine parts.

The operation and advantages of my invention and improvements will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which they appertain. The improved trapoutlet mechanism at the hopper opening secures a positive and effective operation by which variable action upon the crude clay is maintained anc only the stones and refuse matter are permitted to pass beyond the trap'outlet mechanism, the adjustable characteristics permitting a. convenient adaptability of the device to the various conditions and circumstances existing under different characteristics and qualities of clay inprao tical operation. The improved mechanism thus secures positive operation, with high efficiency and economy, in precluding the waste of any percentage of clay which might otherwise'pass beyond tie active conditions of the moving cutter surface in rear of the trap-outlets. The improved bearing conclitions, and protected status thereof, with relation to the moving cutter surface, also assures the effective travel of said surface at all times. with maximum results in its cut ting action and without liability to interference of the clay with its bearings.

I do not desire to be understood as limitmysclf to the detail construction and arrangement of )arts as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in

the adaptation of my invention to varying.

conditions of use, without departing from the. spirit and scope of my invention and improvements I therefore reservethe right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the tion and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus dcsa'ibed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cuttersiirface having openings for the passage of the cut clay, means for holding and retaining the crude scope of my inven- 2.111 apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface having openings for the passage of the cut clay, the activev portion of said cutter surface being horizontal, meansfor holding and retaining the-crude clay in contact with said cutter surface, trap means constituted by a series of inde'oendently-mounted members respectively operating independently for retarding the passageof the clay and for permitting the passage of thestones and refuse matter,

and a vertically adjustablemember collectively carrying said independently-operat- 7 ing trap-means members to adjust the positionof the same as a unit vertically with relation to the activehorizontal portion of said moving cutter surface. f

8. In ap aaratus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface having openings for the passage of the cut clay, trap means for retarding the carriage of the clay upon said'moving cutter surface and for permitting the passage thereon ofthe stonesand refuse matter, said trapmeans, being arranged in series to form a cont1nu-:

one wall and constituted by independentlyoperating members or elements, and means for adjusting said independently-operating trap-means elements as a unit with relation to said cutter surface. 1

t. In. apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface having openings for the passage of the cut clay,

means" for holding and-retaining the crude clay in contact with said cutter surface, and means adjustable. to and from said moving cutte surface and operative in itsadjusted positions to retard the passage .of the passage of the stones and refuse matter.

clay and permit the 5. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a mov ng cutter surface having openings for the passage of the cut clay,"

a hopper mounted above said cutter surface and havin its bottom constituted thereby and pro ided with an outlet opening at its lower portion, trapmea-ns constituted by a series of independently mounted members collectively extending across said opening and respectively operating independently for retarding the carriage of'the clayand 7 permitting the passage/bf vthe stones and refuse matter, and adjustable means cones ti'vely carrying said independently-operat- :ing trap-means members to; adjust the P0- surface and transversely thereof to form an outlet opening, a hopper mounted With relation to said cross member and having its lower front portion constituted thereby, a carrier member mounted in front of said cross member and'transversely of said cutter surface, means for vertically adjusting said carrier member With relation to said cutter surface and said opening, and trap means pivotally' connected to said carrier member and constituting a Wall in front of said opening and operating to retard the carriage of the clay upon said moving cutter surface and to permit the passage thereon of the stones and refuse matter.

7. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a series of successive transverse cutting members and having openings for the passage of the cut clay, an endless chain constituted by links respectively secured to said cutting members, means for supporting said chain links to maintain the active portion of said moving cutter surface in horizontal or platform status, and a supplementary absorbent bearing surface removably carried by said supporting means and constituting a bearing for the chain links thereon.

8. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a series of successive transverse cutting members and having openings for the passage of the cut clay, an endless chain constituted by links respectively securedto said cutting members and having a plane bottom surface, and an absorbent anti-friction bearing surface removably underlying said links in their line of travel and constituting a bearing for the plane bottom surface of the links.

9. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a series of successive transverse cutting members and having openings for the passage of the out clay, an endless chain constituted by links respectively secured to said cutting members and having a plane bottom surface, and a fibrous surface carried by saidsupporting means and constituting a bearing for the plane bottom surface of the chain links. 7 V

10. Inapparatus for separatingstones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a successive series of spaced transverse cutting members and having intervening openings for the passage of the cut clay, an endless chain constituted by links securedto said cutting members, means for supporting said links to maintain the active portion of saidmoving cutter surface in horizontal or platform status and constitutfor closing the intervening space between said-cutting members at a point at the inner side of their point of attachment to the chain links.

11. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a series of spaced successive transverse cross-bars carrying cutting edges, an endless chain constituted by links secured to said cross-bars beyond said cutting edges, means for supporting said links to maintain the active portion of said moving cutter surface in horizontal or platform status and constituting a bearing for the chain links, and means for closing the intervening space between said cross-bars at the terminal ends of said cutting edges at the inner side of their point of attachment to the chain links.

12. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a series of successive transverse cutting members and having openings for the passage of the cut clay, an endless chain constituted by links respectively secured to said cutting members, means for support ing said chain links to maintain the active portion of said moving cutter surface in horizontal or platform status, a supplementary bearing strip for said chain links mounted at the top surface of said support ing means, and means for detachably securing said bearing strip in connection with said supporting means whereby it may be removed from beneath the chain links.

13. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface constituted by a series of successive transverse cutting members and having openings for the passage of the cut clay, an endless chain constituted by links respectively secured to said cutting members, means for supporting said chain links to maintain the active portion of said moving cutter surface in horizontal or platform status, a supplementary bearing strip for the said chain links mounted at the top surface of said supporting means, and a laterally-adjustable holder carrying said bearing strip, whereby said holder may be adjusted to adjust said bearing strip With relation to said supporting means.

14. In apparatus for separating stones from clay, a moving cutter surface consti tuted by a series of successive transverse cutting members and having openings for the passage of the cut clay, an endless chain constituted by links respectively secured to said cutting members, means for supporting said chain links to maintain the active portion of said moving cutter surface in horimg a bearing for the chain links, and means z ontal or platfenmstatusgmd a supplemenname in the presence of the subscribing tary bearing s'tifi i fer ,said 'hai n links 'Withes's'e's. mounted at the top surface, 10f said support- 'ing means, said bearing st ripbeing laterally 5 adjustable with'relati'on to the chain' links Htnesses:

and saidrsuppor't'ihg means. V Jos. REED I IEWP L ,v "teet imo ny whereof 'I haye eigned my BEssIE'C sTiGAN'." 7

ROBERT W. YL

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' Washington, DJ 0. 

